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SJSU Wrestling Archives The Spartan Daily 2-29-80 |
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Wrestlers Battle For PCAA Crown Tonight |
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by Dave Meltzer |
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| All the practice, all the victories, the national ranking... they're all on the line tonight for the Spartan wrestlers
in the PCAA tournament in Logan, Utah. The Spartans, ranked 17th in the nation by National Mat News, are going into the single-elimination tournament in the favorite's role. Utah State, a 25-12 victim of the Spartans on Feb. 12, is the two-time defending champion. Last year, the Aggies skinned SJSU by a mere 2.25 points. Not only does the tournament determine the team PCAA champion, each individual champion qualifies for the NCAA tournament to be held March 13-15 at Oregon State. "We'd like to take five or more wrestlers to the NCAAs," SJSU coach T.J. Kerr said. "We'd need three of those guys to get some big wins in the NCAAs to place in the Top 20." On paper, the Spartans have seven men with potential tournament-winning ability. "All of our guys are capable," Kerr said. "It depends on the mental attitude everyone has going into the tournament. I don't think it's that unreasonable that we'll place all 10 guys in the finals." It may not be unreasonable, but it will take a few major upsets. While the Spartans should regain the conference crown which has eluded them the past two seasons, Utah State will be tough to beat at home. Fullerton State and Portland State (a member of PCAA for wrestling only) may provide trouble. Long Beach State and Fresno State look to be battling only to stay out of the cellar position. SJSU has a very capable 118-pounder in sophomore Wayne Jones. Kerr has confidence in Jones but admitted Jones has a tough task ahead of him as anyone. Jones, 29-8, will have to defeat honorable mention All-American Victor Duarte, 17-4-1, of Fullerton State to make it to the finals. In the finals, Jones will almost certainly have to face his old nemesis, Utah State's Tracy Moore. Moore, 28-3, two-time defending PCAA champion, is now ranked fourth in the nation. One of his three losses was to Jones by an 8-7 margin in San Jose on Feb. 12. "Jones has the odds stacked against him," Kerr said. "He'll have to beat the kid from Fullerton and then beat Moore in front of his home fans." SJSU's Eddie Baza, 24-5-1, is the defending PCAA champion at 126 pounds. Baza's toughest competition should come from Utah State's Dale Gardner, 18-6. Baza stopped Gardner 11-9 in their only meeting this year, in a match in which Baza was slowed by the flu. Utah State's Steve Wright looms as the favorite in the 134-pound class. Wright, T.J., is also a defending PCAA champion. His draw came against SJSU's Steve Lutz. SJSU will be sending Dennis McDowell, 12-12, as their representative in the 134 class. McDowell stopped Lutz in a wrestle-off earlier this week. On paper, SJSU does not figure to have a chance in the 142-pound division. The Spartans' Dennis Shea, 2-6, surprisingly beat Doug Stewart, 16-12, twice in wrestle-offs to determine who would go to the meet. Top picks in this division are Portland State's Rick McReynolds, 19-10-1, Long Beach State's Bob Sole, 15-8, and Utah State's Darrel Smart, 19-11. The 150-pound class looks like the toughest one for the Spartans. SJSU's Adam Elias, 14-21, has three honorable mention All-Americans with which to contend. Portland State's Kevin Benson, 19-1, and Fullerton State's Mike Eliott, 31-3, loom as co-favorites in what should prove to be the toughest division. Benson, a sophomore, has won the PCAA championship the past three seasons. SJSU's honorable mention All-American, Reggie Thompson, 26-12, should be the favorite in the 158-pound class. Portland State's Bill Benson, 8-8-1, Utah State's Dave Hagedorn, 18-11, and Fresno State's defebding PCAA champ Warren Flynn, 10-7, should be Thompson's toughest foes. As for the 167-pound division, Portland State wrestling coach Len Kauffman said flat out, "Pete Lucas will take the 167-pound class." "Evidently, he doesn't know about (Dave) Brouhard," Kerr responded, saying Brouhard will win the crown. Sporting a 26-4 mark, Brouhard is ranked seventh in the nation. Kerr also is very confident that 177-pounder Ken Klein, 25-8, can take the crown for the Spartans. Klein is a co-favorite along with Fullerton's Tony DePaoli, 19-7. Long Beach's Bob Grimes, 15-7, may be the spoiler in this class. Improving freshman Jerry Morrison, 18-15-1, is SJSU's hope in the 190-pound class. Morrison scored his biggest win of his collegiate career Feb. 12 when he stopped Utah State's Jim Dreyer 11-7. The heavyweight division should be all Casey Gulliford. The Spartans' Gulliford, 17-11, looms as a solid favorite. Gulliford's toughest competition should come from Robert Woy, 9-7, from Fresno State, whom Gulliford pinned quickly Feb. 22. |
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